Stanchion.



T. M. JOHNSON.

STANCHION. APPLICATION FILED 020.30, 191 5.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY THEODORE M. JOHNSON, OF SPENCER, IOWA.

STANCHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

AppIication filed December 30, 1915. Serial No. 69,446.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE M. JOHN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county of Clay and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stanchions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal restraining devices and more particularly to new and useful, improvements in stanchions, having particular reference to means whereby a plurality of stanchions may be simultaneously controlled from a given point, whereby the animals normally restrained by the stanchions are set free, the device being particularly useful in cases of emergency such as fire or other accident in a large stable.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device of the class above described in which a simple and cheap yet strong and durable structure is embodied for normally restraining a number of animals such as cows, horses and the like, means being provided to simultaneously control all of the restraining devices from a given point.

IVith the above and other objects in view my invention resides preferably in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of stanchions shown in released position and the mechanism for simultaneously opening or closing the same. Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of the stanchions showing the same in closed position, portions thereof being in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a sup porting structure embodying a horizontal beam 1 carried on a support 2, of which there may be a plurality (not shown). The

floor 3 of a stable may serve to cooperate' with the beam 1 to support the stanchions hereinafter described. I have also illustrated a plurality of stanchions, these stanchions being identical in construction and, therefore, but one of the same being described.

Preferably the stanchion embodies a pair of arms 4:, pivoted at 5, to a bracket 6, said bracket being provided with a stud 7 for reception in a recess in the floor 3. The arms are curved toward each other adjacent their lower extremities, as indicated at 8, so as to facilitate the reception of the animals neck therebetween. The upper extremities of the arms 4: are pivotally connected by means of links 9 to a block 10 having a frusto-conical head 11 from which axially extends a rack bar 12. A substantially frusto-conical housing 13 is adapted to receive the block 10, at times, and is provided with a squared sleeve 14 to guide the rack bar 12 and to support the housing 13, a bracket 15 being carried by the beam 1 and embracing said sleeve 14.

In order to open and close the stanchion I provide an operating shaft 15 mounted in bearing brackets 16 carried on the upper face of the beam 1, said shaft having a plurality of pinions 17 mounted thereon and meshing with the rack bars of the various stanchions to be operated. In order to rotate the shaft 15 a pinion 18 is mounted on one extremity thereof and meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 19 rotatable on a stub shaft 20 carried on the end of the beam 1. Means for rotating the large gear wheel 19 may be provided such as a handle 21.

In operation, assuming that the stanchions are in the open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the animals to be restrained thereby are driven into the various stalls of the stable, the animal inserting its head between the arms 4: in the usual way and rotary movement is delivered to the shaft 15 from the gear 19. This movement must be clock-wise looking at Fig. 3 which will cause the rack bars of the various stanchions to be raised bringing the arms 1 into closed position, as shown to advantage in Fig 2. It will be seen that in cases of emergency the animals restrained in a large stable may be all simultaneously released by turning the shaft 15. Any means may be provided for locking the shaft from a given point to prevent turning when the stanchions are in closed position and any system of gearing may be employed to facilitate the operation of any number of stanchions from one or more points by automatically operated means or the like, these modifications not entering into my present invention but serving to explain tne application of the device.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be readily gathered, and While I have shown and described the same as embodying a specific structure I desire that it be understood that I may make such changes therein which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In an animal restraining device, the combination of a plurality of pivotally con nected arms, an operating member, means connectingsaid arms with said operating member, guiding means for the operating member, housing means for said operating member when in a predetermined position, and actuating means for said operating member.

2. In an animal restraining device, the combination of a plurality of pivotally con nected arms, an operating member pivotally connected with said arms, housing and guiding means for said operating member, and means operable from a predetermined point for actuating one or more of said operating members to move into and out of closed position a plurality of said restraining devices.

3. In. an animal restraining device, the combination of a plurality of pivotally connected arms, a frusto-conical opera-ting member pivotally connected with said arms, a complementally formed housing and guiding means for said operating member, and means operable from a predetermined point for actuating one or more of said operating members to move into and out of closed position a plurality of said restraining devices.

4; In an animal restraining device, in combination, a plurality of restraining devices, operating means comprising a plurality of rack bars, having the lower portions thereof formed to constitute frusto-conical heads pivotally connected with said restraining devices, a complementally formed guiding and housing means for said rack bars and said frusto-conical heads, a shaft, a plurality of pinions of said shaft engageable with said rack bars, and means for rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE M. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses RENE MONTOUR, L. C. LYNCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner 01 Patent Washington, I). C. 

